CURRENT LITERATURE.
The British Quarterly.—The first article in the number is an able survey of Mr. Gladstone's political career. It is not, perhaps, easy to say much that is new upon this theme, for no statesman has ever been more discussed, more heartily praised, or more bitterly reviled. Hatred of Mr. Gladstone is, indeed, the only vestige of a creed or a policy that most Conservatives possess. But the reader will find this an excellent summary. The other political articles are "Ulster and Home-rule," touching on some difficult problems in Irish affairs which it does not fall within our province to discuss ; and "A Political Survey of the Quarter." The account of the results of the Palestine Exploration Fund, in "Palestine West of the Jordan," is very in- teresting. In "Recent Theories of the Pentateuch," the destructive criticisms—for criticism that assigns a late date is, to a certain extent, destructive—are combated. Important questions are mooted in "Lay and Medical Functions in Hospital Administration," the chief contention being for a permanent element of medical superintend- ence which will supply to the management an element oj stability not found in the constantly renewed succession of youthful house- surgeons and house-physicians. The other article, full of curious information, is "The Inspiration of Death in Folk-lore."
In the Modern Review, Mr. Karl Pearson writes a first article on "The Kingdom of God in Munster," an account of the Anabaptists of the Lutheran Reformation. Written in a vigorous style, and evidently out of a full knowledge of the subject, it is a notable contribution to the religions history of the' sixteenth century. Miss Collet writes on "Outlines and Episodes of Brahmic History," an essay made pecu- liarly appropriate by the death of Keshub Chunder Sen since it went to press. Keshub Chunder Sen had, indeed, long ceased to be a ruling influence in the Brahmo Somaj, and his death rather clears the situa- tion; but it marks an epoch. It is satisfactory to hear that the movement is prospering, and that the reactionary conduct of one who was once its great leader has not injured it. Miss Alice Gardner writes very judiciously on "A Transition Period in Female Education," and Professor Bouvier, in an essay which we can unreservedly commend for its moderation and courtesy, defends the Protestantism of Genova against the attacks which have been made upon it in the Spectator and elsewhere. We cannot dis- cuss the subject here, but cannot help saying that some of the utter- ances of the Liberal ministers in Genevan pulpits have seemed some- what strange as proceeding from quarters that still professed to be Christian. Many students of the Bible will probably be surprised to hear from Professor Sayce that Saul, David, and Solomon were pro- bably not the true names of the first three Kings of Israel. Two other essays, "Through the Prophets to the Law," by Professor J. Estlin Carpenter, and "Is not all Theology Scientific ?" by R. D. Darbishire, make up the number.
There has been started, in the interests of the Scottish Episcopal Church, a monthly magazine, entitled, The Scottish Church Review, the first number of which (published by John Avery and Co., Aber- deen), is now before us. The editor, in a sufficiently modest preface, announces a sufficiently varied programme. It is hardly fair to judge of a venture of this kind simply by its first number, but we should say there is a danger that it may become a receptacle for sermons and lectures. Thus, " Chrysostom as an Orator," by the Bishop of St. Andrew's, is decidedly dry ; and "The Nobleman's Son at Caper- naum " scarcely deserred printing, in spite of the references in it to Canon Farrar. Of decidedly more interest to laymen are, "How the Work at a Church Orphanage Grew," and a lucid and good-natured review of "Max O'Rell," under the title of "A Frenchman's Im- pressions of England." The Scottish Church Review will, of course, be what its editor can make it ; meanwhile, it deserves a word of encouragement, as a sign of activity on the part of the body from which it comes, which is all the more remarkable when one remem- bers the size of that body.
Previous page
